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of those that shall live and reign with him, world without end.

In my sorest distresses, and last agonies and conflicts, let me see thee, a God in covenant, and reconciled to me: let not my evidences for heaven be then to get. When I come to die, let me have nothing to do but to die, and surrender up my soul into the hands of that God who gave it me. Let not the foresight or prospect of death be so terrifying as to overwhelm me, and cause me to fall from thee. Be with me when I pass through the dark and dismal passage of death: when flesh, heart, and all creature-comforts fail and forsake me, O blessed Lord, be thou the strength of my heart, and my portion for

evermore.

PAPER XI.

WORK while it is day, the night is coming in which none can work. Now is the day of God's patience and forbearance; this is the only time that God hath allotted for work and service: he that doth the work for which he came into the world faithfully and carefully, shall in the evening of the day receive a bountiful reward; but if he neglects his opportunity, and squanders away his time in idleness and sloth, the night will surprise him, and then it will be too late to begin that work which before he would not be persuaded to set about. This counsel is serious and grave, every one hath work to do; O that all would be convinced of this great truth! we have souls to save, heaven to secure, an interest in Christ to get, and yet we are stupid and negligent, as if this were a matter of no great moment.

O my God, give me wisdom that I may

see the necessity of looking after my soul, that it may go well with that, however it fare with the body and worldly concerns. Now is the day, now is the time to provide for a happy eternity: to-day if you will hear his voice; to-morrow may be too late, therefore now set about this work in good earnest; see how it stands with thy poor soul. Is God and thy soul friends? or are they still at a distance? Is God dearer to thee than all the world? Dost thou think thyself happier in being a child of God, an heir of heaven, than if thou wert possessed of all the things of this lower world? Dost thou not prize and value God as thy chief friend, and rather have his favour and friendship, than to have the greatest monarchs on thy side? Dost thou humbly resolve to be the Lord's, and his only; and that thy time, thy heart and strength, thy memory, understanding, shall be all exercised in thy Maker's service? Study his mind and will, and then readily comply with his commands: fear his threatenings, believe his promises, obey his

precepts, and resolve with Job, that though he slay thee, yet thou wilt trust in him.

Resolve to follow God through all difficulties; beg of him to own thee for his, to avouch thee to be one of his peculiar people. Secure a title to heaven: this world is passing away apace; the day is spending, and the night approaching, in which I cannot work. I am sensible of the greatness of my work, and know not how short my time may be; it may be shorter than I or the world imagine. My work is so great and difficult, that in my own strength I can do nothing. Lord Jesus, I implore thy aid and assistance; for thy merit sake, let my sins all be done away; let me be sanctified, justified, pardoned, and be made meet to be received into those blessed mansions that are prepared for thy redeemed ones. Let me have those qualifications that are requisite in all those whom thou admittest to live and reign with thee for ever, that holiness of life, that purity of heart, that sincerity, that heavenly-mindedness, that weanedness from this world and

worldly enjoyments, which is required in all those that love and fear thee.

those divine qualities that may amiable in the eyes of my judge.

Let me have

render me

O blessed Jesus, let thy righteousness be imputed unto me, and my

sins washed away

with thy precious blood. Deny me not an interest in thy meritorious death and sufferings. I cannot be happy here nor hereafter, without some comfortable hopes that I do belong to the election of grace. Lord, if it be thy will, let me know assuredly that I am one of those for whom Christ died; seeing he died for sinners, let me never die in my sins.

Let

And as I trust Christ died for me, so let thy Holy Spirit live and reign in me. me be guided, directed, counselled, comforted, strengthened, and supported, the remaining part of my days, that whether they be few or many, they may be so spent, that when I come to lie upon a sick and deathbed, I may lift up my head with joy unspeakable, hoping my redemption draws

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